LAKERS NOTEBOOK: Dwight Howard can look to Kobe Bryant when it comes to playing with pain

NEW YORK - As he searches for answers on how to strengthen his aggravated labrum in his right shoulder, Dwight Howard could begin by consulting a prominent teammate who's gone through similar issues.

Kobe Bryant.

He's nursed shoulder injuries in past seasons and has remarked how he's played despite the persisting pain.

"I'm probably just crazy," Bryant said. "There's certain players that don't mind and play through all kinds of pain. I'm one of those players."

Viewing Bryant as a case study in hopes that Howard can return when the Lakers (22-26) play Tuesday against the Brooklyn Nets (28-19) at Barclays Center isn't so simple.

"Me and Kobe play two different positions," said Howard, who's missed the past two games. "With the position that I play, I use a lot of force coming up, whether that's going up for a dunk or a shot."

Howard has already ruled out surgery this season because the recovery process would take at least six months. He had a non-invasive platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection Saturday, though it may take seven to 10 days before he feels any affects if it at all. Howard's also routinely iced his shoulder and received electronic stimulation.

Regardless, it's not going to change an unpleasant reality whenever he returns to the court.

"He's going to get hit all the time," Bryant said. "He has broad shoulders."

So how does Howard find the right balance between making the tactical adjustments without inhibiting any of his aggressiveness?

"I'm not really sure," Bryant said. "When you get hit on those things, your arm is going to go dead. That's how it is when you deal with shoulder injuries. It's going to be like that for a while."

Staying patient

In the latest carousal that makes up D'Antoni's rotations, second-year guard Darius Morris has become the odd man out.

He missed the past five games in favor of shooting guard Jodie Meeks. But Morris knows the drill after seeing playing time for Antawn Jamison and Meeks fluctuate.

"It's going to come," said Morris, who's averaged 4.7 points on 39.5 percent shooting and 1.7 assists in 39 games. "I'd rather it be next week than next month, but you stay ready. Don't be down or discouraged about it."

Morris has relatively improved from his rookie season. Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni likes Morris' speed and work ethic as well as his ability to defend bigger guards with his his 6'7", 190-pound frame. Morris praised D'Antoni for helping him "expanding" his game at shooting guard.

"Kobe always tells me to keep working at it," Morris said. "If I know there's something I want to be in my head, I can't let anybody discourage that. I have to just keep working and become that player I want to become."